Granica

The Story

Set in the heavily militarized border zone between Poland and Belarus, Granica follows the story of Oliwia, a young woman living on the edge of the forest. Together with her husband, she secretly provides food and water to refugees who attempt to cross the border through the woods.

One night, Hamid, a desperate refugee, appears at her window. His arrival forces Oliwia to confront the harsh realities of a system that criminalizes humanity. As tensions rise and the situation grows more dangerous, Oliwia faces a tragic conflict between compassion and survival.

This powerful short film explores themes of identity, moral responsibility, and the human cost of political decisions.

The Music

The music for Granica is intentionally subtle, blending natural sounds—rustling leaves, creaking branches, and soft clicks—into a haunting yet fragile score. Deep, somber cellos introduce an underlying sense of danger in the forest, only to gently resolve that tension as the story unfolds.

Rather than focusing on the refugees themselves, the score highlights the unknown fears that the forest holds and how they often overshadow the human reality. It’s not the people emerging from the shadows that scare us—it’s the darkness itself.

The music also reflects the injustice and brutality of the military and police towards innocent individuals. Through its delicate layers, it challenges the listener to consider the harsh realities of those caught in a system that criminalizes compassion.

Credits

Director: Joshua Neubert
Screenwriter: Joshua Neubert
Director of Photography: Larius Kieninger
Editor: Emma Holzapfel
Production Designer: Barbara Fröhlich
Casting Director: Franzis Unger
Costume Designer: Katharina Schweizer
Music Composer: Peter Albrecht

 

Awards

CIVIS Medienpreis 2024
Young C. Award – Nominee

Wendland Shorts 2024
Best Short Film – Winner

Deutscher Menschenrechts-Filmpreis 2024
Hochschule – Nominee

Bundesfestival Junger Film 2023
Special Acting Award – Winner
Award for Social Relevance – Winner

Interfilm – Kurzfilmfestival Berlin 2023
1st Prize (Confrontation Competition – Human Rights) – Winner

Exground Filmfest 2023
3rd Prize (German Short Film Competition) – Winner

BAFTA Student Awards 2023
Short Film (Live Action) – Nominee

Filmschau Baden-Württemberg 2023
Best Short Film – Nominee

Huesca International Film Festival 2023
‘Francisco Garcia de Paso’ Human Values Mention – Winner

Stills

Explore more Work